(Manchester United News)
Radamel Falcao will return to Manchester United in buoyant mood after becoming Colombia's joint top scorer of all time during Monday's friendly win over Kuwait in Abu Dhabi.
The striker's 24th goal for his country - equalling a record held for 24 years by Arnoldo Iguaran - came in the 74th minute, when he converted the penalty he had won himself by drawing a foul just inside the area. Falcao blasted the spot-kick into the top left corner to seal his national side's 3-1 victory, four days after he bagged a double in Colombia's 6-0 romp against Bahrain.
Leading the attack against Kuwait as captain, Falcao was heavily involved in the action from early on at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. On 10 minutes, he slammed a shot off target with his right foot after working an opening inside the area and then the opposition goalkeeper Hameed Youssef cut out a cross before he could pounce.
When the South Americans went in front, it was courtesy of a spectacularly nonchalant volley by Abel Aguilar after a free-kick was only partially cleared. The pressure continued but the offside flag was raised when Falcao dived but failed to meet a cross and he was frustrated to see a goal by Carlos Bacca rightly disallowed by a correct call from the same assistant referee.
With half-time approaching, the Colombia captain made a fine defensive header from inside his own six-yard box but Kuwait's resulting corner sailed over him at the near post before being converted by Musaed Al Enaz for a surprise equaliser.
Kuwait would have gone ahead in the second half had the woodwork not rescued David Ospina, the Colombia and Arsenal goalkeeper. Instead, Falcao's side took the lead again in the 68th minute when one of their half-time substitutes, Edwin Cordona, scored his first international goal with a long-range shot.
The United forward's landmark strike then followed and he stayed on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, as did Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez - he'll be in direct opposition to his international captain this weekend when Aston Villa head to Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League.
